Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church
E-link January 23, 2008
Prayer and Planning Day
We will gather this Saturday from 10 to 4 to renew ourselves and plan
for the coming year together.
We need YOU to be with us. Please email Rev. Jim (oamcc@frontiernet.net)
to let him know you will be there.
Deacon's Corner:
Yo God, how come I have come to not expect honesty from myself
and others around me?
I think it comes from being told I was too honest or brutally honest at
times.
I have come to learn the game of what is expected of me and not to
offend others.
I, at times, have lost touch even with the awareness of being dishonest.
I think my boss is wrong, but I say that's a good idea.
My friend hurt me, but say no that's O.K.
My Church is welcoming, but I see myself turning people away.
I didn't mean to say that to my partner, but know full well I knew what
I was doing.
God, I want to heal, I need to start getting honest with myself and
others.
Help me to create the possibility for more truth in my life. Amen-
Deacon Debbie
Pastor's Reflection
Once again, I'll use Deacon Debbie's thoughts as my
springboard for this column.
Do you remember the children's story "The Emperor's New Clothes?" I was
fascinated by it when I was young - and now I am again. In the story,
the vain emperor was never satisfied with his tailor's creations. The
clever tailor had imaginary cloth and made imaginary garments for the
emperor. Then, everyone told him how wonderful he looked as he walked
around naked, thinking he was dressed in finery because everyone around
him was fawning all over him. Then a child asked his mother loudly, "Why
is the emperor naked?" In the story, that question caused the emperor to
realize his vanity and change his foolish ways.
Jesus said, "Unless you become like little children, you will not enter
the kingdom of heaven." Children say it like they see it with no
pretense, no dishonesty - at least until they learn that people around
them don't want blunt truth and that one learns to be "nice" and rarely
say what one really thinks.
By 2003, Open Arms MCC was in a really precarious state. Attendance was
down; one Sunday we had 14 people at church. Finances were precarious
and we were in great debt for our size. People were either openly or
not-so-openly discontent and showing that. We were in a major rut. Our
very existence was in doubt.
When Elder Arlene came to see us, we had a planning weekend and found
out who we were and where we were called to go. That meeting recharged
us, helped us enunciate our vision and got us out of our rut. Incredible
things happened for us and we began to grow; we got out of debt; we
bought a church.
In all churches and organizations and companies and relationships, there
come times when people get in a rut and need a shake-up to get moving
again. I believe that Open Arms MCC is in that place right now. We are
nowhere near the dangerous place we were in back in 2003. We are however
in a rut. Attendance at worship is not what it can be; finances are not
what they could be; enthusiasm is not what it could be. We are in a rut.
Now, let me also say that there are many wonderful things going on at
the same time. We are a church of joy and welcome. People who come are
still attracted to us and come back again and seek to join. We have two
people right now ready to accept membership and that's only several
weeks after we had a large reception of new members.
God speaks to us. God calls out prophets from among us. God calls each
of us by name and has a job for each of us to do.
So, as good stewards of God's good gifts, we will meet to pray together
and brainstorm together, and plan specific tactics together to refresh
our vision and dig ourselves out of the too-comfortable rut we've fallen
into. Prayer and Planning day is this Saturday from 10 to 4. Please
email or call me to let me know you will be there (oamcc@frontiernet.net).
Let's learn to speak the voice of truth together with nothing held back.
Let's renew our commitment to this wonderful adventure that membership
in Open Arms MCC can be. In 2003 miraculous things happened for us. God
has more miracles in store for us but we have to be willing.
Love,
Rev. Jim
Hymnals. As our congregation has grown, our supply of
hymnals has become inadequate. In February, we will begin a hymnal
drive. Anyone who donates $20 will have a label inside the front
covering indicating "Given in memory of (or in honor of or by)"
The Second Annual Camping Trip to Letchworth is March
28-30.
If you want to attend the Camping trip to Letchworth,
you must sign up with Ray no later than Sunday,
February 10th. This year Ray will need
to have a non-refundable 50.00 dollar deposit by the
10th of February. Please contact Ray
Ash Wednesday is on February 6. Service will be at 7pm.
Each Wednesday in Lent, we will have a soup supper and bible
study on the life and writings of St. Paul, facilitated by Rev.
Jim and Rev. Lu.
The Terrys are hosting a Women's Superbowl
Party at their home. All women of the church are
invited.
The Terrys are also putting final touches on the
2008 Church Directory. If you have not filled out an
information sheet or had your picture taken, please do so this Sunday.
Prayer Requests:
For Anthony’s parents:
Maria as she recovers from knee surgery and Ralph as he awaits surgery
For a friend at a
distance who is having a hard time
For Pam as she fights
cancer and Jeanette who supports her.
For Kerry as she
searches for a job
For Joe S. and Steven
as they serve in the military.
For DeeDee’s brother,
Mike, as he continues his recovery and move towards independence.
For Mike R’s co-worker
whose wife Sarah has died
For the success of the
Retreat and Planning Day on Saturday.
Flowers: Because the Board wanted to keep the budget
manageable, there is no money budgeted for flowers. Rev. Lu has put up a
sign-up sheet on which you can donate flowers on a Sunday in honor or or
in memory of someone. Sundays when no one has signed up with not have
flowers.
Copyright Open Arms MCC, 2007. All rights reserved. Email: oamcc@frontiernet.net